on $100k a year, leaving Birmingham

change
El Paso, TX cityscape

instead of birmingham

El Paso

tx · metro 872k

photo: Gene Maysonet / pexels

a dispatch from

el paso

TX

31.76°N

106.49°W

El Paso has the Franklin Mountains running right through the middle of the city (which is rare), with hiking trails inside city limits and the desert wide open just past the suburbs. The Mexican food is exceptional in ways that the rest of Texas doesn't quite match (it's true regional border food). Ciudad Juarez is literally next door across the Rio Grande. The light at sunset is unreal.

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$350

under Birmingham, every month

El Paso gives you room Birmingham doesn't. Same gross salary, lower monthly cost of living.
landable, recorded on the el paso entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,473/mo

5% more expensive than Birmingham(vs $1,407/mo)

02state income tax

0%

$417/mo less in state tax than Birmingham

vs 5% in Birmingham

03after rent

$6,860/mo

$350 more than Birmingham

gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.

04a house here

$231k

11% cheaper than Birmingham

vs $261k in Birmingham

05metro size

872k

vs 1.2M in Birmingham

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

222

pleasant days a year, in el paso.

Birmingham only manages 171 of those. Summer is real but not punishing: 60 days top 95° vs Birmingham's 28.

Noticeably quieter than Birmingham. About 67% fewer events on a typical month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

65/100

7% higher than Birmingham

vs 61/100 in Birmingham

Closest outdoor draw: White Sands National Park, 72.1 mi.

·walk score®

93/100

18% higher than Birmingham

vs 79/100 in Birmingham

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

13

35% fewer than Birmingham

vs 20 nonstops in Birmingham

04 · see also

if el paso appeals, also worth a look:

see also

roanoke

more things to do

turn the page

see also

lexington

more things to do

turn the page

see also

huntsville

more things to do

turn the page

compare el paso with:

RoanokeLexingtonHuntsville